guardarsi alle spalle
Meaning: To remain vigilant and aware of dangers or threats that might come from behind.
Language: Italian
Literally: to look behind oneself at the shoulders
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The phrase pictures someone literally glancing over their shoulder to detect threats approaching from behind.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- far battere il cuore — To cause someone to worry or to stir romantic feelings in someone.
- mandare giù — To accept or tolerate something unwillingly, often swallowing one's pride or doubts.
- battere i tacchi — To run away or flee hastily.
- a viso aperto — Openly and frankly; without deception or concealment.
- mettere le corna — To commit infidelity against a partner; to cuckold someone.
- senza capo né coda — In a senseless or disjointed way; without coherence, order, or point.
More Italian idioms
- qui casca l'asino — That is the crux of the matter; that is where the real difficulty lies.
- mettersi al passo con i tempi — To keep up with current events or modernize one's knowledge and habits.
- battere la grancassa — To advertise or publicize something widely and loudly; to spread news or promote somethin…
- con beneficio d'inventario — To accept something with skepticism or reservations, not at face value.
- perdere il filo — To lose one's train of thought or become confused about a subject during conversation or…
- questione di lana caprina — A trivial or pointless debate that wastes time and produces no useful result.
From our tongue twisters
- Se la serpe si avvicina alla siepe del serpente, il serpente scappa dalla siepe. — A sibilant 's/se/si/sci' minefield; both words (serpe and serpente) slither through the s…
- Chi è Ciccio Capece? Ciccio Capece è un capocaccia che caccia con la cacciaballa. — A 'c/ci/ccia' onslaught — Italian's hard and soft c in the same sentence, non-stop.
- Sopra la panca la capra campa, sotto la panca la capra crepa. — A beloved 'c' / 'p' rhythm trap.